Daily Republican., 1887-07-09
cleveland 8 Back Down.


President Cleveland's letter TO-
Mayor Francis, of St. Louis, giving his
reason, for NOT visiting 81. Louis dur.
ing the annual national enoampment OF
the Grand Army Of the Republic 10
one couohed In candid language. As
he cannot be welcomed by the Grand
Army he has concluded to stay ut
home aud 90 some other time when he
viii receive . heartier welcome fro n
those who fought on the other side. He
thinks that many posts OF the Grand
Army would remain At home II he
we're to 70, and that he would probably
be hootsd ct and insulted BY angry
veterans, his public Acts, notably the
pension vetoes and battle asg order,
would be vehemently denounced. not
By the whole body but BY such large
number OF them that his stay would be
made extremely unpleasant OF course
he will receive credit and be applauded
for his letter, which 10 nothing more
than . back down from the perfor nance
OF . high and patriotic duty. Hs pre-
fers to stay away but he hopes the
Grand Army and the people OF St.
Louis will have . good time and he
will come At some other time. His let
tar will not have the effect that ne In.
tends II TO have. His ex ,uses for not
going to 81. Louis are childish. He
seems to comprehend the spirit In
which 1t will be received when he an
h,ipAses rtfisctions upon his personal
courage. In his whole letter he shows
Q perfect ignorance OF the qualities OF .
real soldier. He evidently looks upon
the gathering NJ 81. Louis % bowling,
irrestrainAble mob. Never having per
formed service In the army except
through q substitute that he permitted
to 20 to the poorhouse when he came
back from the WAT, he evidently looks
upon the returned soldiers ss kind Of
semi being amongst whom
even the life OF . President Of the
United StA'e, would not be sac. He
cannot comprehend that the men who
fought for the Q nion are not gang OF
lawless desperadoes. He does not take
time 70 rtflsct that the men who assss.
sinased Presidents Lincoln and Gar
held were not Union veterans. This 10
the Grst time in the history OF the coun-
try that its chief executive officer hAs
declined to attend such . popular de-
monstra lion Of an important organ!zs.
tion through the fear Of being iDsul.ed.
He might as we'll have said that them
fellers that are going TO meet In 81.
Louis are . rough, ungentlems an y
crowd, and 30 guess I'll not go there,
for darss II know what they moughtn't 7
do"
The insult to the Grand Army is
gratuitous and 1t will be imputed m ore
TO the ignorance than the malice oil
Grover Cleveland, though the latter has
been most plainly indicated In hii
whole cond duct towards the soldiers.
How very different, from the gres
reiormer Martin Luther, Is the back
down action OF Grover Cleveland. Th'
6rst when warned against going to tn,
diet o, Worms, ssld he would go ~
every tile upon the house roofs wer'
devils" Grover Cleveland said ht
would no. 60 to 81. Louis for fear h'
might be insal,ed. How little h'
knows OF human nature. There will
be eAe-Armsd and one.lesged veteranI
there who viii have no respect 70
Grover Cleveland, bu. who wouli lus.i
ly cheer the President Of the United
States. Thoush they isht despias th
man, they would re.pec; The tffics h
hlls. Had he gone 70 s.. Louis b
would most certainly have been ig
nored by the soldiers. Brave soldier
would hardly seek . sympathetic CON
pAnion in . man who sen . suostitu'
into the army and afterwards per mi
ted him to lie 10 the poorhouse. Tue
want better material than that. The
would not make hero out OF the pal
who skulked away from Washing,
on the eve OF Decoration Day, tn,
want better friend in trying v!cis:
tudes than the man, who. upon evel
trivial pre- .ex', vetoed veteran penstt
bills, and they have never been used
that kind OF loyslty that would viola
law Of Congress 10 seri the capture
battle flags back to their oristn
owners. We say that OF co nrse Grow
Cleveland wo1ld have been out OF pia
reviewing an army OF veterans, but
President OF the United States
would have been exactly In place al
as such he vould hsve been rsspect
by every veteran oD accoun. OF /
high oh % which hs held. His reAso
for not going ara childish, bat he w
no doubt fee. better II he does not go.